In response to a video threat issued by Gurpatwant Pannun, the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), security measures for Air India flights operating to and from Canada have been significantly tightened. Pannun's video message, circulated on social media, warned against flying with Air India after November 19, citing potential dangers to passengers' lives. He urged Sikh individuals to participate in a global blockade against the airline, claiming that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport would be closed on that day and renamed in support of the Khalistan ideology.
Pannun, a supporter of the Khalistan movement, stated that the airport's name would change to Shahid Beant Singh, Shahid Satwant Singh Khalistan Airport upon the liberation of Punjab. Despite Pannun asserting that the call was for a boycott rather than a threat, Canada's Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, emphasized that the government takes any aviation threat seriously. Investigations into the online threats are underway, with Canada's federal police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, leading the probe.
India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, regarded Pannun's statement as having "serious criminal intent, punishable in all legal jurisdictions." He urged Canada to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. The threat holds historical significance, as it comes decades after the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight by a Khalistani terrorist, resulting in the tragic loss of 329 lives.
The Canadian government, in collaboration with security partners, continues to closely monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding aviation against potential threats. The developments surrounding the threat underscore the need for international cooperation to ensure the safety of air travel amid heightened security concerns.